Non-EBacc subjects suffering as timetables are cut and teachers laid-off

Timetabled time has been reduced and specialist teachers laid-off across the range of non-English Baccalaureate subjects, a study has found.

Research involving 2,500 teachers shows that timetabled provision for at least 12 non-EBacc subjects has decreased in many schools, while time dedicated to the six eligible EBacc subjects has increased.

In the NASUWT study, around 1,000 teachers responded to two questions asking whether non-EBacc subjects had been cut and whether EBacc subjects had been prioritised.

Of these, the worst hit subject was art, with 415 teachers reporting decreased timetable time being allocated, and design and technology, which 403 teachers said had been cut in their school.

Of the 12 subjects that the teachers reported had been cut, others notably affected include religious education, (with 354 reporting a decrease), ICT (396), music (386) and drama (378).

Meanwhile, provision for the EBacc subjects has notably increased. A total of 655 teachers said English provision had increased, alongside maths (591), science (426), languages (472), history (421) and geography (397).

Elsewhere, 163 respondents told the study that teachers had been made redundant as a result of the EBacc, while 360 said that both teaching vacancies in non-EBacc subjects had gone unfilled and teachers in these subjects have had their hours cut.

Almost 1,300 teachers said that their school had restricted key stage 4 subject options since the EBacc’s introduction.

Chris Keates, NASUWT general secretary, said: “This survey is further damning evidence that educational entitlements for our children and young people are being stripped away. The secretary of state is ploughing on with his ideological agenda despite the fact that young people are being denied access to important subjects and their learning opportunities are being restricted.”

Elsewhere this week, a letter signed by 100 cultural, business, sporting and education organisations was handed in at 10 Downing Street voicing concerns over the speed with which the government is pushing through the EBC reforms. This comes as two petitions against the English Baccalaureate reforms have amassed more than 72,000 signatures between them. For more on this story, click here.